– Muslims going for Hajj all over the world have started leaving their countries for Saudi Arabia

– Makkah and Madeenah are the two holy cities pilgrims will visit

– Going for Hajj (pilgrimage) is the last pillar of the religion of Islam

Muslims from Nigeria have started being air-lifted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj. The annual religious rite is very vital to Muslims. Going on pilgrimage is only compulsory on Muslims who have the wherewithal in terms of finances especially. The health state of any Muslim going for the yearly act of worship is also highly important.

The two months of Islam when Hajj rites begin are namely: Dhul Qaadda and Dhul Hajj (11th and 12th month of Islamic calendar respectively).
Muslims going for Hajj have so many acts of worship they will perform when they get to Makkah and Madeenah. However, they have to put it at the back of their mind that four out of all these religious top the priority list.

1. Ihraam (Putting on the white apparel)
Ihraam literally means sacred. The white cloth that pilgrims use to cover their body is known as Ihraam. It is compulsory that everybody performing Hajj must put on the cloth.
The Ihraam is put on in locations known as Meeqaat. The Meeqat for various countries differs. The Meeqat for pilgrims from Nigeria is not the same as those from North African countries.
Men use to different pieces, while women use three different pieces. For the male folk, he uses one to tie around himself as wrapper and the other over his shoulder which will also come out of his armpit.
When a person is in a state of Ihraam, he must not abuse nor curse nor use vulgar languages. He also must avoid hunting any animal for its meat.
Allah says in chapter 2 verse 197 in the Book of Allah about the month of Hajj and what pilgrims should avoid, saying:
“Hajj is during well-known months; so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein by entering the state of Ihraam, there is to be for him no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do, Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me (Allah says), O you people of understanding.”

2. Al Wuquufu Bil Arafa (Standing on Mount Arafa)
This is the most important aspect of pilgrimage rites. Anyone who misses this just wasted his time going for Hajj. This is because Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon his noble soul) said Arafa itself is Hajj.

Muslims stand on the mount of Arafa on the ninth day of the 12th month of Islamic calendar. They will listen to sermon from the Imaam. They will observe Zuhr and Asr prayers there before they head to a place called Muzdalifaah during nightfall.
Arafa is the name of the mountain the Muslims will stand on.

3. As Sahyu Baynal Saffa wa Marwa (The Hasty walk between Saffa and Marwa)
Saffa and Marwa are two particular spots in the city of Makkah. What a pilgrim does here is for him to be involve in a hasty walk starting from Saffa and ending it in Saffa.
What happens is that the Muslim moves from Saffa to Marwa; then from Marwa to Saffa; then from Saffa to Marwa, until he completes seven hasty walking in total between the two spots.
In chapter 2 verse 158 of the Glorious Qur’an, Allah mentions both locations.

4. Tawaaf (Circumbulation)
This is the movement round the black house known as Kaabah seven times starting from the spot the black stone known as Hajaratul Aswad is place. The movement is counter-clockwise.
Immediately a pilgrim gets to Makkah, he has to perform the movement round the Kaabah. After a while of Hajj rites,, the pilgrim has to do the Tawaaf. When the pilgrim completes all Hajj rites, he has to do the circumbulation as a way of saying good bye.
A Muslim can do the Tawaaf any time he wishes.There is not restriction to the period of the day a person wishes to move round the Kaabah.
YFT stands for Your Friday Tonic.
Naij.com